Rodri chooses Barcelona despite ‘unrefusable’ Real Madrid offer

Spanish reports say Real Madrid went to great lengths to sign Manchester City midfielder Rodri, only for a deal the club believed it had secured to take an unexpected turn.

The 30-year-old Spain international is now close to joining Barcelona, according to the Spanish radio programme El Larguero on Cadena SER. The development has raised questions at Real Madrid over why negotiations for a player they had considered their leading target ultimately failed.

Journalist Anton Meana, speaking on the programme, revealed details of the discussions between Rodri and Real Madrid.

“Real Madrid made Rodri an offer that could not be refused after the Club World Cup, a really good offer,” Meana said.

He added: “The agent and the player themselves value the education, class and respect, and the way Real Madrid handled the negotiations. The club was extremely serious about signing him and gave everything it had to ensure he joined.”

Meana said the entire Real Madrid hierarchy had been involved in the attempt to complete the transfer.

“From the president to the chief executive, everyone at the club worked to make it possible for Rodri to wear the Real Madrid shirt,” he said. “The conversations were very positive and continued over the past two weeks, but in the end the player decided to choose another offer.”

Rodri’s agent has since revealed that the midfielder has opted for a move to Barcelona, favouring the Catalan club over their La Liga rivals. Real Madrid had been regarded as the strongest contender for his signature throughout the previous weeks.

The midfielder had been in talks with Real Madrid for several weeks. His interest in moving to the Santiago Bernabeu first emerged in March, when he indicated that he wanted to join the club.

However, the situation changed suddenly after Barcelona stepped up their pursuit. Reports say Rodri held talks with Barcelona manager Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco, with both men convincing him of the club’s sporting project.

The player reached an agreement on personal terms with Barcelona on Thursday, according to those reports.

The proposed move would represent a major change in direction for Rodri, who had appeared increasingly likely to join Real Madrid after the Spanish club made what Meana described as an exceptional offer following the Club World Cup.

Instead, Barcelona’s discussions with Flick and Deco are understood to have persuaded him to select their project. His decision brings an end to weeks of uncertainty over whether he would move to the Santiago Bernabeu or remain in the Spanish football landscape with Barcelona.

Real Madrid’s efforts included involvement from the highest levels of the club, with the negotiations described as serious, respectful and positive. Despite that, the player has chosen Barcelona after the Catalan club entered the race strongly and agreed personal terms with him.